page_title: List of mammals of Central America
section_title: Order: Chiroptera (bats)
hierarchical_section_title: List of mammals of Central America / Subclass: Theria / Infraclass: Eutheria / Superorder Laurasiatheria / Order: Chiroptera (bats)
caption_attribution_description: English: Chiroderma salvini
context_page_description: This is a list of the native wild mammal species recorded in Central America. Central America is usually defined as the southernmost extension of North America; however, from a biological standpoint it is useful to view it as a separate region of the Americas. Central America is distinct from the remainder of North America in being a tropical region, part of the Neotropical realm, whose flora and fauna display a strong South American influence. The rest of North America is mostly subtropical or temperate, belongs to the Nearctic realm, and has far fewer species of South American origin.
  At present Central America bridges North and South America, facilitating migrations in both directions, but this phenomenon is relatively recent from a geological perspective. The formation of this land bridge through volcanic activity three million years ago precipitated the Great American Interchange, an important biogeographical event. In part because of this history, Central America is extremely biodiverse; it comprises most of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot.
context_section_description: The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
  Family: Noctilionidae
  Genus: Noctilio
  Lesser bulldog bat, Noctilio albiventris LC
  Greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus LC
  Family: Vespertilionidae
  Subfamily: Myotinae
  Genus: Myotis
  Silver-tipped myotis, Myotis albescens LC
  Southwestern myotis, Myotis auriculus LC
  California myotis, Myotis californicus LC
  Guatemalan myotis, Myotis cobanensis DD
  Elegant myotis, Myotis elegans LC
  Cinnamon myotis, Myotis fortidens LC
  Hairy-legged myotis, Myotis keaysi LC
  Black myotis, Myotis nigricans LC
  Montane myotis, Myotis oxyotus LC
  Riparian myotis, Myotis riparius LC
  Fringed myotis, Myotis thysanodes LC
  Cave myotis, Myotis velifer LC
  Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
  Genus: Bauerus
  Van Gelder's bat, Bauerus dubiaquercus NT
  Genus: Eptesicus
  Little black serotine, Eptesicus andinus LC
  Brazilian brown bat, Eptesicus brasiliensis LC
  Chiriquinan serotine, Eptesicus chiriquinus LC
  Argentine brown bat, Eptesicus furinalis LC
  Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus LC
  Genus: Lasiurus
  Desert red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LC
  Tacarcuna bat, Lasiurus castaneus DD
  Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus LC
  Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LC
  Big red bat, Lasiurus egregius DD
  Northern yellow bat, Lasiurus intermedius LC
  Genus: Pipistrellus
  Eastern pipistrelle, Pipistrellus subflavus LC
  Genus: Plecotus
  Mexican big-eared bat, Plecotus mexicanus NT
  Genus: Rhogeessa
  Yucatan yellow bat, Rhogeessa aeneus LC
  Genoways's yellow bat, Rhogeessa genowaysi EN
  Slender yellow bat, Rhogeessa gracilis LC
  Thomas's yellow bat, Rhogeessa io LC
  Little yellow bat, Rhogeessa parvula LC
  Black-winged little yellow bat, Rhogeessa tumida LC
  Family: Molossidae
  Genus: Cynomops
  Mexican dog-faced bat, Cynomops mexicanus LC
  Southern dog-faced bat, Cynomops planirostris LC
  Genus: Eumops
  Black bonneted bat, Eumops auripendulus LC
  Dwarf bonneted bat, Eumops bonariensis LC
  Wagner's bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus LC
  Sanborn's bonneted bat, Eumops hansae LC
  Underwood's bonneted bat, Eumops underwoodi LC
  Genus: Molossus
  Aztec mastiff bat, Molossus aztecus LC
  Bonda mastiff bat, Molossus currentium LC
  Coiban mastiff bat, Molossus coibensis LC
  Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LC
  Miller's mastiff bat, Molossus pretiosus LC
  Black mastiff bat, Molossus rufus LC
  Sinaloan mastiff bat, Molossus sinaloae LC
  Genus: Nyctinomops
  Peale's free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops aurispinosus LC
  Broad-eared bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus LC
  Big free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops macrotis LC
  Genus: Promops
  Big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis LC
  Genus: Tadarida
  Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis LC
  Family: Emballonuridae
  Genus: Balantiopteryx
  Thomas's sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx io VU
  Gray sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx plicata LC
  Genus: Cormura
  Chestnut sac-winged bat, Cormura brevirostris LC
  Genus: Cyttarops
  Short-eared bat, Cyttarops alecto LC
  Genus: Diclidurus
  Northern ghost bat, Diclidurus albus LC
  Genus: Peropteryx
  Greater dog-like bat, Peropteryx kappleri LC
  Lesser doglike bat, Peropteryx macrotis LC
  Genus: Rhynchonycteris
  Proboscis bat, Rhynchonycteris naso LC
  Genus: Saccopteryx
  Greater sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx bilineata LC
  Lesser sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx leptura LC
  Family: Mormoopidae
  Genus: Mormoops
  Ghost-faced bat, Mormoops megalophylla LC
  Genus: Pteronotus
  Davy's naked-backed bat, Pteronotus davyi LC
  Big naked-backed bat, Pteronotus gymnonotus LC
  Parnell's mustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii LC
  Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus LC
  Family: Phyllostomidae
  Subfamily: Phyllostominae
  Genus: Chrotopterus
  Big-eared woolly bat, Chrotopterus auritus LC
  Genus: Glyphonycteris
  Davies's big-eared bat, Glyphonycteris daviesi LC
  Tricolored big-eared bat, Glyphonycteris sylvestris LC
  Genus: Lampronycteris
  Yellow-throated big-eared bat, Lampronycteris brachyotis LC
  Genus: Lonchorhina
  Tomes's sword-nosed bat, Lonchorhina aurita LC
  Genus: Lophostoma
  Pygmy round-eared bat, Lophostoma brasiliense LC
  Davis's round-eared bat
caption: Salvin's big-eyed bat
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